Jahid, Qaderi, Rokon generated most Neo-JMB funds, police say

Neo-JMB, the Gulshan attack perpetrators, used money they collected from a few leaders who generated funds for the outlawed group that planned attacks in different parts of the country, police have said.

Former army Major Jahidul Islam alias Major Murad gave away about Tk 10 million of his retirement benefits to the extremist group while former banker Tanvir Qaderi donated the money after selling a flat, said Monirul Islam, head of the counterterrorism unit, at a press conference on Tuesday.

Apart from this, Khandker Rokonuddin, who disappeared along with his family from Dhaka's Khilgaon, donated Tk 8 million, Monirul added.

He said that detectives were probing if anyone other than these three had funded the outfit.

Last month during a press briefing Monirul said that the counterterrorism unit had found evidence which concluded that funds and weapons used in the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks had been sourced from abroad.

Monirul had said that the law enforcers had evidence to show that Tk 1.4 million reached JMB through 'Hundi', an illegal way of sending money from 'Hundi hubs' abroad.

Jahid was killed during the Sep 2 Roopnagar raid by the police. Police said that he was a prime accomplice of Neo-JMB top leader Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, who was killed earlier during the Narayanganj raid. The former army official had provided training to the Gulshan and Sholakia attackers.

The counterterrorism unit believes that Tanvir Qaderi was supposed to succeed Tamim Chowdhury as Neo-JMB coordinator. He was known as Abdul Karim and Somsed within the organisation.

He used the name 'Karim' to rent rooms for the Gulshan attackers in the Bashundhara residential enclave of the capital. His dead body was recovered following the Sep 10 police operation.

Khandaker Rokonuddin, 50, used to stay at Khilgaon Chowdhuriparha.  His wife's name is Naima Akhter, 45. He was a lecturer of zoology at Jessore government college. The couple, along with two of their daughters - Rezwana, 23, and Ramita Rokon, 15, and son-in-law Saad Qayes, 30, have been missing since a year. Police believe they have migrated to IS-controlled regions in Syria.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Monirul told bdnews24.com after the press briefing that "a lot of money was collected for the funds. But the organisation embezzled a lot of it. The Gulshan attack did not cost much."

He added that the Neo-JMB leaders did not keep much money with them. They would deposit the money with trusted aides.

On Oct 8, Abdur Rahman Ainul jumped to his death from a building in Dhaka's Ashulia area during a police raid. Police believe that Tk 3 million, recovered from the flat, was also part of the Neo-JMB funds.

He said that the money was also used to pay for salaries and perks of the Neo-JMB leaders and members as well as for the education of their children.

He said that the terrorists had been in a fragile mental state as they were away from their families for a long time. They appeared physically frail as well, he said.